U.S. patent application number 09/815511 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-26 for hot swap drawer assembly.
Invention is credited to Cobb, Lane C., Eldridge, Bob, Jahne, Craig J., Williams, Jim D..
Application Number | 20020135976 09/815511 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25218018 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020135976 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jahne, Craig J. ; et
al. |
September 26, 2002 |
Hot swap drawer assembly
Abstract
An assembly for a computer system is described. That assembly
comprises a frame that has a base, a first side and a second side.
The assembly also includes a backplane, which is coupled to the
frame, and a connector. The connector has a first end that is
coupled to the backplane and a second end for receiving a disk
drive connector. The assembly enables a disk drive carrier to be
secured between the first and second sides such that it is oriented
sideways with respect to a front surface of a computer system
chassis. Also described are a disk drive storage unit and a
computer system that include that assembly.
Inventors: |
Jahne, Craig J.; (Beaverton,
OR) ; Cobb, Lane C.; (Ridgefield, WA) ;
Eldridge, Bob; (Portland, OR) ; Williams, Jim D.;
(Portland, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY, SOKOLOFF, TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
Seventh Floor
12400 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles
CA
90025-1026
US
|
Family ID: |
25218018 |
Appl. No.: |
09/815511 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/187 20130101;
G06F 1/184 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/685 ;
361/683 |
International
Class: |
G06F 001/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An assembly for a computer system comprising: a frame that has a
base, a first side and a second side; a backplane, which is coupled
to the frame; and a first connector with a first end that is
coupled to the backplane and a second end for receiving a first
disk drive connector; wherein a first disk drive carrier may be
secured between the first and second sides such that it is oriented
sideways with respect to a front surface of a computer system
chassis.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first side is separated from
the second side by a distance that is slightly greater than the
width of a first disk drive, the frame enables a first disk drive
carrier to slide over the base when being secured between the first
and second sides, and the backplane is fixed to the base such that
a first disk drive carrier sliding over the base to connect a first
disk drive connector with the second end of the first connector
will also slide over the backplane.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the base has a center, a first
end and a second end; wherein the first connector is coupled to the
backplane near the center of the base; and further comprising a
second connector, the second connector having a first end that is
coupled to the backplane near the center of the base and a second
end for receiving a second disk drive connector.
4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first connector may receive
a first disk drive connector and the second connector may receive a
second disk drive connector such that the first disk drive
connector faces the second disk drive connector
5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the backplane is connected to
the base of the frame such that it is oriented substantially
perpendicular to the base.
6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the first end of the first
connector is oriented substantially perpendicular to the second end
of the first connector and the first end of the second connector is
oriented substantially perpendicular to the second end of the
second connector.
7. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the first and second sides each
have a disk drive carrier retention member, are each between about
1 and about 2 inches high, and are separated from each other by
between about 4 and about 5 inches, and wherein the backplane
includes a connector for coupling it to a cable that may connect
the backplane to a computing unit.
8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second end of the first
connector may receive a first disk drive connector such that a
first disk drive carrier may be oriented substantially
perpendicular to the base of the frame.
9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second sides each
include a grille.
10. A disk drive storage unit comprising: a frame having a base, a
first side and a second side; a backplane, which is coupled to the
frame; a first connector that has a first end, which is coupled to
the backplane, and a second end; and a first disk drive assembly
that comprises: a first disk drive carrier that has a handle, and a
first disk drive, which has a first disk drive connector, the first
disk drive being coupled to the first disk drive carrier; wherein
the first disk drive carrier is coupled to the first and second
sides, and the second end of the first connector is coupled to the
first disk drive connector such that the handle of the first disk
drive carrier may be oriented sideways with respect to a front
surface of a computer system chassis.
11. The disk drive storage unit of claim 10 further comprising: a
second connector that has a first end that is coupled to the
backplane and a second end; and a second disk drive assembly that
includes a second disk drive carrier, which has a handle, that is
coupled to a second disk drive, the second disk drive having a
second disk drive connector; wherein the second end of the second
connector is connected to the second disk drive connector such that
the first disk drive connector of the first disk drive faces the
second disk drive connector of the second disk drive.
12. The disk drive storage unit of claim 11 wherein the first and
second sides each include a disk drive carrier retention member and
the first and second disk drive carriers each include slide rails,
and wherein the first and second disk drive assemblies are coupled
to the first and second sides when the disk drive carrier retention
members engage those slide rails.
13. The disk drive storage unit of claim 12 wherein the first and
second sides are each between about 1 and about 2 inches high and
are separated from each other by between about 4 and about 5
inches, and wherein the first and second disk drives are standard 3
1/2 inch disk drives, and further comprising a cable that is
connected to the backplane for connecting the backplane to a
computing unit.
14. A computer system comprising: a chassis that has a front
compartment and a back compartment, the front compartment having a
front surface, and the back compartment having a back panel; a
computing unit that is housed in the back compartment of the
chassis, and a disk drive storage unit, which is coupled to the
computing unit and the chassis, that may slide into and out of the
front compartment of the chassis, the disk drive storage unit
comprising: a frame that has a base, a first side and a second
side; a backplane, which is coupled to the frame; a first connector
that has a first end that is coupled to the backplane; and a first
disk drive assembly that is coupled to a second end of the first
connector, the first disk drive assembly comprising: a first disk
drive carrier that has a handle, and a first disk drive that is
coupled to the first disk drive carrier; wherein the first disk
drive carrier is secured between the first and second sides with
the handle being oriented sideways with respect to the front
surface of the front compartment of the chassis.
15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the disk drive storage
unit further comprises: a second connector that has a first end
that is coupled to the backplane; and a second disk drive assembly
that is coupled to a second end of the second connector, the second
disk drive assembly having a second disk drive carrier that is
coupled to a second disk drive; wherein the second disk drive
carrier faces the first disk drive carrier.
16. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the first and second
sides of the frame are each between about 1 and about 2 inches high
and are separated from each other by between about 4 and about 5
inches, and wherein the first disk drive is a standard 3 1/2 inch
disk drive, and further comprising a cable that connects the
backplane to the computing unit.
17. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the disk drive storage
unit is coupled to the chassis by a coupling member that enables
the disk drive storage unit to slide into and out of the front
compartment of the chassis.
18. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the length of the
chassis, as measured from the front surface to the back panel, is
less than or equal to about 20 inches, and wherein the computing
unit comprises a 12 inch by 13 inch baseboard.
19. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the first end of the
first connector is oriented substantially perpendicular to the
second end of the first connector.
20. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the disk drive storage
unit comprises a plurality of disk drive assemblies that are each
oriented substantially perpendicular to the base of the frame.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to disk drive storage units
and computer systems that contain them.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The telecommunications industry relies upon large banks of
servers to store and manage enormous volumes of data. These servers
are generally mounted into racks that are positioned on opposite
sides of a corridor, which enables access to them. When used for
telecommunications applications, servers must ordinarily have a
chassis length that does not exceed 20 inches. That constraint
inhibits use of servers with chassis that house conventional 12
inch by 13 inch baseboards and typical front to back mounted disk
drives, as such chassis will exceed the 20 inch chassis length
specification.
[0003] Accordingly, there is a need for a computer system that
includes a disk drive storage unit and a conventional baseboard, in
which the computer system's chassis is no longer than 20 inches.
There is a need for such a computer system that is "hot swappable,"
i.e., one that permits a disk drive to be replaced without having
to power down the system. The hot swap drawer assembly of the
present invention enables such a computer system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention that illustrates an assembly that may be used to receive
a pair of disk drives.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a disk
drive storage unit of the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of a disk drive carrier
that may be used to make the disk drive storage unit of FIG. 2.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a computer
system that includes the disk drive storage unit of FIG. 2.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
present invention that illustrates an assembly that may be used to
receive a pair of disk drives.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
disk drive storage unit of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0010] An assembly for a computer system is described. That
assembly includes a frame that has a base, a first side and a
second side. The assembly also includes a backplane, which is
coupled to the frame, and a first connector. That connector has a
first end that is coupled to the backplane and a second end for
receiving a first disk drive connector. The assembly of the present
invention enables a first disk drive carrier to be secured between
the first and second sides such that it is oriented sideways with
respect to a front surface of a computer system chassis. Also
described are a disk drive storage unit that includes this
assembly, and a computer system that includes such a disk drive
storage unit.
[0011] In the following description, numerous details are set forth
to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It
will be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that the
invention may be practiced in many ways other than those expressly
described here. The invention is thus not limited by the specific
details disclosed below.
[0012] FIG. 1 represents an embodiment of an assembly of the
present invention that may be used to receive a pair of disk
drives. Assembly 100 includes frame 101, which comprises base 104,
first side 105 and second side 106. First side 105 is separated
from second side 106 by a distance that is slightly greater than
the width of a disk drive--preferably between about 4 and about 5
inches. Those sides preferably are each between about 1 and about 2
inches high. Frame 101 enables a disk drive carrier to slide over
base 104 and to be secured between first and second sides 105 and
106. In this embodiment of the present invention, sides 105 and 106
(which may be made from extruded aluminum) each include a disk
drive carrier retention member--here grooves 102--that provides
frame 101 with that capability. Backplane 103 is coupled to frame
101, e.g., by fixing it to base 104 such that disk drive assemblies
may slide over it, when they are inserted into frame 101. Backplane
103 includes a connector for coupling it to a cable that may
connect backplane 103 to a computing unit.
[0013] Assembly 100 further includes a pair of connectors 108, 109.
First end 110, 111 of each connector is coupled to backplane 103
near the center of base 104. In this embodiment, second end 112,
113 of each connector is oriented substantially perpendicular to
first end 110, 111. Second ends 112, 113 may each receive a disk
drive's disk drive connector. In a preferred embodiment, connectors
108, 109 and backplane 103 are SCSI compatible and facilitate hot
swapping of disk drives, i.e., they enable a disk drive to be
replaced without having to shut down the computer system.
[0014] FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of an embodiment of a
disk drive storage unit of the present invention that includes the
assembly of FIG. 1 and a pair of disk drive assemblies. Disk drive
storage unit 220 includes assembly 200 and disk drive assemblies
221 and 222. Each disk drive assembly comprises a disk drive
carrier that has a disk drive coupled to it. The disk drive
carriers are coupled to sides 205 and 206 by inserting slide rails,
which are located on the sides of the disk drive carriers, into the
grooves that are formed on sides 205 and 206. Disk drive assembly
221 was installed in assembly 200 by sliding it over base 204 from
first end 223 until its disk drive connector was coupled with the
second end of connector 208. Similarly, disk drive assembly 222 was
slid over base 204 from second end 224 until its disk drive
connector was coupled with the other connector that is mounted to
the backplane.
[0015] When installed, the disk drive connector of disk drive
assembly 221 faces the disk drive connector of disk drive assembly
222. Unlike typical disk drive storage assemblies, in which the
disk drives all face the same direction and are oriented with the
carrier handle facing away from the chassis, storage unit 220
causes the disk drives to be turned sideways with respect to the
front of the chassis. Orienting the disk drives sideways with their
carriers and connectors facing each other enables a low profile two
unit disk drive assembly that may be accommodated by a shorter
chassis.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a disk drive carrier that may be used to
make the disk drive storage unit of FIG. 2. Disk drive carrier 330
comprises frame 331 and handle 340. Frame 331 includes first arm
333 and second arm 334. Handle 340 includes first end 339 and
second end 341. End 339 includes pawl 342, and end 341 includes pin
343. Pin 343 enables handle 340 to rotate from an open position to
a closed position. When a rib of pawl 342 passes through aperture
346, which is formed in arm 333, handle 340 is locked into the
closed position as shown here. Handle 340 may be released from the
closed position by squeezing pawl 342 and shoulder 347, which will
cause the rib to slip below aperture 346, enabling pawl 342 to
disengage from aperture 346. Releasing pawl 342 from aperture 346
enables disk drive carrier 330 to be removed from disk drive
storage unit 220. In a preferred embodiment, handle 340 comprises a
one piece integrated structure formed from a high strength
engineering plastic, such as a polycarbonate.
[0017] Disk drive carrier 330 further includes first slide rail
348, which is coupled to arm 333, and second slide rail 349, which
is coupled to arm 334. Rails 348 and 349 will slide into grooves
formed in sides 205 and 206 of assembly 200, when carrier 330 is
inserted into that assembly. Rails 348 and 349 are preferably made
from a high density polymer, e.g., a polyamide based engineering
plastic like those available from BASF Aktiengesellschaft under the
trademark Ultramid.RTM.. Although such materials are preferred,
rails 348 and 349 may be made from other materials of equal
hardness that have shock absorbing properties and that are
relatively slick, which enables the rails to easily slide along the
grooves formed in the sides of assembly 200.
[0018] In this embodiment, rails 348 and 349 include openings that
enable screws to pass through them, and through matching orifices
formed in arms 333 and 334, for engagement with a disk drive that
may be attached to carrier 330. When that occurs, the disk drive,
in essence, contributes part of the support structure for the disk
drive carrier.
[0019] Spring 350 may be positioned between rail 348 and arm 333 to
block electromagnetic emissions and protect against electrostatic
discharge. Spring 350 includes bent flexible sections 351 that will
contact sides 205 and 206, when the carrier is inserted into
assembly 200. The flexible nature of those sections ensures good
contact with sides 205 and 206, which enables electrostatic
discharge from the carrier assembly to ground. Spring 350 is
preferably made from stainless steel, but may be made from other
noncorrosive materials that provide the desired flexibility and
electrical characteristics.
[0020] Disk drive carrier 330, as shown in FIG. 3, is designed to
receive a 1 inch thick disk drive. Alternative embodiments may
accommodate a 1.6 inch thick disk drive instead. Disk drive
assemblies 221 and 222 preferably include standard 3 1/2 inch disk
drives, which may be contained in a standard case that is about 4
inches wide and about 5 inches long.
[0021] FIG. 4 represents a computer system that includes the disk
drive storage unit of FIG. 2. Computer system 460 comprises chassis
461, which includes front compartment 467 and back compartment 468.
Front compartment 467 includes front surface 463 and back
compartment 468 includes a back panel (not shown). A computing unit
is housed in back compartment 468 of chassis 461. That computing
unit may include a conventional 12 inch by 13 inch baseboard, upon
which are mounted one or more CPUs, chipset components, memory
devices, and various other standard components.
[0022] Computer system 460 further comprises disk drive storage
unit 420, which includes disk drive assemblies 421, 422 that are
coupled to right angle SCSI connectors 408, 409. Disk drive storage
unit 420 is coupled to chassis 461 and the computing unit. In this
embodiment of the present invention, a coupling member, here rods
462, couples chassis 461 to disk drive storage unit 420. Although
this embodiment uses rods 462 to perform that attachment function,
many other mechanisms may be employed instead, e.g., various types
of bars, strips, etc. . . . ,that enable disk drive storage unit
420 to slide into and out of front compartment 467 of chassis
461.
[0023] The length of chassis 461, as measured from front surface
463, where it receives disk drive storage unit 420, to the back
panel preferably is less than or equal to about 20 inches. Grilles
464, 465 are formed at the upper ends of sides 405 and 406 of disk
drive storage unit 420. Chassis 461 houses fans 466, which will be
located behind disk drive storage unit 420, when disk drive storage
unit 420 is inserted into front compartment 467. When operating,
those fans draw air over disk drive storage unit 420, through
grilles 464, 465, and into back compartment 468 of chassis 461 to
cool components that are located in that section of computer system
460. A standard ribbon cable (not shown) may connect the backplane
contained in disk drive storage unit 420 to the computing unit.
[0024] Although the embodiments described above use a right angle
SCSI connector to couple a disk drive to a backplane, other types
of connectors may be used instead. FIG. 5 illustrates an
alternative embodiment in which backplane 503 is oriented
substantially perpendicular to base 504 of frame 501. In this
embodiment, connector 509 includes first end 51 1, which is coupled
to backplane 503, and second end 513 for receiving a disk drive
connector. Unlike the previously described embodiments, first end
511 of connector 509 lies in the same plane as second end 513 of
connector 509.
[0025] In addition, disk drive carrier retention member 502 differs
from disk drive carrier retention member 102, shown above. Instead
of grooves formed in the sides of frame 501, retention member 502
comprises a guide rail, which has shelf 570 and tabs 571, that
serves to secure a disk drive carrier. Those skilled in the art
will recognize that many other mechanisms may be used to secure a
disk drive carrier within frame 501.
[0026] Although the embodiments disclosed above relate to an
assembly that accommodates two disk drives, alternative embodiments
may accommodate one disk drive or more than two disk drives. When
designed for additional disk drives, the disk drives may be stacked
on top of each other in one or more trays, or be placed side by
side. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, disk drives can be mounted
upright, while retaining a sideways orientation with respect to a
front surface of a computer system chassis.
[0027] In this embodiment, disk drive storage unit 620 includes
backplane 603, which is attached to the base of frame 601.
Connector 609 is connected to backplane 603 at one end and may be
connected to a disk drive assembly at the other end. Like the
embodiment shown in FIG. 5, those ends of that connector lie in the
same plane. The disk drive assemblies included in disk drive
storage unit 620 may be removed by raising them out of the top of
that storage unit. Those disk drive assemblies are secured within
frame 601 by sliding their disk drive carriers into guide rails
(not shown) that are fixed to sides 605 and 606. (Sides 605 and 606
preferably will be about 7 inches high.) Those rails could be
mounted to grilles 664, 665, such that they are oriented vertically
with respect to the base of frame 601. This embodiment of the
present invention may be used with relatively large rack mounted
computer systems that require several disk drives, while still
enabling the computer system chassis to meet the 20 inch chassis
length specification.
[0028] An improved assembly for a computer system (and a disk drive
storage unit and computer system that include such an assembly) has
been described. That assembly receives disk drives such that they
are oriented sideways in relation to a front surface of a computer
system chassis. That sideways orientation enables a 20 inch long
chassis to house both a conventional 12 inch by 13 inch baseboard
and the disk drive assembly. When a low profile computer system is
desired, which still provides hot swap capability, disk drives may
be placed sideways in a tray that may be slid into and out of the
computer system chassis. When used in a larger rack mounted
product, disk drives may be placed upright, while still turned
sideways, to enable a relatively large number of disk drives to be
used in a system that has a 20 inch chassis.
[0029] Features shown in the above referenced drawings are not
intended to be drawn to scale, nor are they intended to be shown in
precise positional relationship. Additional components that may be
included in the illustrated assembly, disk drive storage unit, and
computer system have been omitted as they are not useful to
describe aspects of the present invention.
[0030] Although the foregoing description has specified an
assembly, disk drive storage unit and computer system that includes
certain features, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
many modifications and substitutions may be made. It is intended
that all such modifications, alterations, substitutions and
additions be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *